Thunder chases lead

Ap
Sunday, January 19, 2014

HOUSTON, Texas - Oklahoma City surged in the third quarter to overcome a double-digit deficit and beat a hot-and-cold Houston 104-92 on Thursday, closing within half a game of the NBA Northwest Division lead.

Elsewhere, league leader Indiana made it nine-straight home wins with a comfortable victory over New York, and Brooklyn was too good for Atlanta in their match in London.

Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant scored 36 points and Reggie Jackson added 23 as the visitors came from 12 points down to tie the score entering the fourth quarter.

The teams stayed within a basket after that until Jackson scored five points in a 7-0 run which gave the Thunder a 97-89 lead and they held on from there.

James Harden and Terrence Jones scored 16 points each for Houston, which scored just 19 second-half points after posting a season-high 73 points in the first half; setting an NBA record for the largest scoring differential between two halves.

Indiana's Lance Stephenson scored a career-high 28 points to lead the Pacers to a 117-89 victory over New York.

Paul George added 25 for the Pacers, who have a 20-1 home record and moved four games clear of Miami in the race for the Eastern Conference's top seed.

Carmelo Anthony had 18 of his 28 points in the first quarter for the Knicks, who lost control of the game in the second quarter as Indiana went on an 11-1 run, then another 16-7 run leading into halftime.

Brooklyn's Joe Johnson scored 26 of his 29 points in the first half to set up the Nets' 127-110 victory over Atlanta.